On October 21st, I returned to the campus of MTSU in Murfreesboro to attend the 2nd annual Tennessee Biodiversity Summit, presented by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. This year’s summit built on 2025’s inaugural event, which drew participants from 72 counties and 12 states.
This year’s theme was titled “Moving the Needle, Wins in Conservation.” Over nine speakers provided updates on Tennessee’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), the 10-year blueprint for conserving and managing Tennessee’s fish and wildlife. A broad range of attendees included conservation professionals, researchers, hunters, and wildlife enthusiasts.
Outside of the auditorium there were more than 20 educational booths featuring a variety of government agencies, conservation organizations and such, providing resources on local biodiversity and more. Bob Butters…